Esteban Diablo was born the son of a Spanish nobleman in early 9th Century. Curious and inventive by
nature, the restless young man was fascinated with the ancient science of alchemy. Using funds borrowed from his
inheritance, Diablo roamed Europe in search of documents and artifacts of ancient alchemy, as well as rare potions
and herbs with which to experiment. Within a decade, he became the world's greatest living authority on alchemy,
having discovered or concocted countless potions with bizarre properties. Haughty and cunning, Diablo began to
put his alchemical knowledge to use for personal gain.

Journeying to Transylvania to investigate its legendary secrets, Diablo settled there and established permanent
laboratory facilities. Under suspicious circumstances, he acquired a spacious castle and began his work.

although most of his potions' effects proved transitory, Diablo discovered an elixir that could retard aging.
Drinking it, he embarked on a reign of terror over the surrounding Transylvanians, until a mob of villagers caught
him unaware and imprisoned him in a massive crypt. Trapped there until the 20th Century, when he mesmerized the
Thing of the
Fantastic Four to free him. Not having aged
appreciably during his century of confinement, he began to plot his alchemical conquests anew as
Diablo.